California Sportsman Magazine - January 2023

Sportsma n Californ ia

Your LOCAL Hunting & FishingResource

PUBLISHER

James R. Baker

GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andy Walgamott

EDITOR

Chris Cocoles

CONTRIBUTORS

Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Cal Kellogg, Todd Kline, Bill Schaefer

SALES MANAGER

Paul Yarnold

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Colleen Chittick, Riland Risden, Diana Medel Robles, Mike Smith

DESIGNER

Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker

DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Jon Hines

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com

CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine

ON THE COVER

A late December and anticipated early January burst of rain should help what is expected to be a solid run of North Coast steelhead. The Smith and Chetco Rivers –the latter just across the border in Oregon –should be the best bets for January steelie anglers. (MIKE STRATMAN/REDWOOD COAST FISHING)

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25 HARD‘CORE’TROUTFISHING

The thought of fishing down deep for trout – not with his fancy downriggers but lead core line – seemed like an archaic concept for our trout savant Cal Kellogg. “Lead core? That was something grandpa used on a stiff rod balanced with a massive reel spooled with 10 colors of lead core,” Kellogg writes. “I was a modern trouter.” But after an insightful lesson with a guide and a lot of tinkering afterwards, you too just might become a believer in his hybrid lead core setup and start bringing home more limits.

35 WHATLIESBENEATH

As calico and sand bass and other species head out to deeper water off the Southland coast, stealthy boat anglers should seek out underwater structure – think pier pilings, boulders, even sunken ships! – to find fish congregations. Bill Schaefer details how to find these hot spots ahead of time and how to fish them once you’re offshore.

41 WATERFOWLHUNTERS:HOWTOPUTOUTTHEFLARES

You can have the best decoy spread of all time, but it could all be for naught if the rest of your setup isn’t spot-on. From inadequate blind construction to too

EDITOR’SNOTE

The weekend before Christmas I flew down to Southern California to meet some friends and attend my school Fresno State’s football bowl game at Los Angeles’ spectacular SoFi Stadium.

Besides how awesome the facility was and that Fresno State defeated Washington State to put us Bulldog fans in a festive mood, I spent significant days in Los Angeles for the first time in almost 20 years since I lived and worked there.

And while I can honestly say I was never a big fan of the region and don’t have the greatest memories of my experiences there for various reasons, the beautiful, mostly smog-free sunny weather that late December weekend had me recalling some surprisingly pleasant memories. Most of those were when I was able to get out of the city and find some peace in some of SoCal’s wilderness areas and parks. There was a set of walking trails less than a couple miles from my Thousand Oaks home, bass fishing at Lake Casitas near Ojai and some great hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The mountain lion P-22, which became a bit of a Southern California celebrity as it roamed around Los Angeles’ urban Griffith Park area, was humanely euthanized after experiencing health issues. (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE)

I also occasionally checked out Griffith Park, tucked away between Glendale and Hollywood. Griffith Park could get crowded – hey, it’s Southern California; you had to expect that! – but it still felt like an oasis among the chaos of the Southland. It was also home to the mountain lion P-22, a star in a city of stars and starlets. Los Angelinos embraced the critter similar to the way they love their Lakers, In-N-Out Burger and the Santa Monica Pier.

Maybe it was because L.A. loves a Hollywood tale that’s both upbeat and tragic at the same time – P-22 was beloved by many but also had no place to go while trapped in its Griffith Park safe haven and surrounded by urban sprawl - and maybe it’s because we all need to rally behind a P-22 in our busy lives.

In December, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service were concerned about the animal’s well-being after it was believed it was hit by a car. A successful tranquilizing and subsequent wellness check detected enough health concerns that prompted officials to humanely euthanize SoCal’s real-life lion king.

The deceased mountain lion trended on social media and tributes were posted by Gov. Gavin Newsom, actor Chad Lowe, filmmaker Jay Duplass and everyday locals.

“Mountain lion P-22 has had an extraordinary life and captured the hearts of the people of Los Angeles and beyond,” the joint CDFW/NPS press release stated. “The most difficult, but compassionate choice was to respectfully minimize his suffering and stress by humanely ending his journey.”

Hopefully another one is beginning, and that animal will have plenty of room to stretch its legs this time. P-22’s life was a real L.A. story in a city known for make-believe ones. -Chris Cocoles

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The skeg is made of anodized 5052 aluminum. The size is 8 3/4 inches high by 10 inches wide and it’s 3/16 inch thick. The anodization keeps the aluminum from corroding in fresh- and saltwater. The LeeLock Magnum Skeg is available to fit most Minn Kota and MotorGuide (pictured) motors. It comes with clear PVC-coated stainless steel hose clamps. Call 360-380-1864 or write info@ leelock.com if you have any questions about fit.

LEELOCK CRAB CRACKER

This new tool from Leelock will allow you to measure your Dungeness crabs to determine which ones are legal to keep. Then use the Crab Cracker to crack them in half, separating the two clusters from the shell and guts.

The Crab Cracker has been designed so that it sits nicely on top of a 5-gallon bucket, perfect for when you clean crabs. The bucket gives you a stable base, which makes it easier to clean – the guts and shell go into the bucket, making cleanup a snap. Crabs cleaned this way take up half as much space as whole crabs, so you can cook twice as many in your kettle.

The Crab Cracker is a unique tool made from solid aluminum, and comes in handy for cleaning Dungeness crabs.

Adventures

I had a chance to visit Igloo in Katy, Texas.It’s an amazing family with great people. Here are Igloo’s Brian Garofalow, Bass Pro Tour angler Jacob Wheeler and I. (TODD KLINE)

I took my son Dylan to SoFi Stadium in L.A. when my home state Miami Dolphins played the Los Angeles Chargers. We had a good time. (TODD KLINE)

We’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what he’s up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddklinefishing.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor

I took another fun trip on the water with my friend Brian Shaw, former NBA champion as a player and current assistant coach with the L.A. Clippers. (TODD KLINE)

Another

The dusk bite has been great too. (TODD KLINE)

I had the opportunity to work as a commentator for the championship, which featured the world’s best para surfers. (TODD KLINE)

When the ISA World Para Surfing Championship was held at Pismo Beach last month, the Pismo Pier naturally made for quite a great photo op. (TODD KLINE)

nice bass that fell for a Coolbaits offering. (TODD KLINE)

Here’s

to you

scoring a lunker bass in 2023 as well! (TODD KLINE)

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

1 Online harvest reporting begins for steelhead, sturgeon and North Coast salmon report cards 1 NorCal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association Mad River Steelhead Derby begins; madriversteelheadderby.com 11 Last day of duck and scaup hunting seasons in Northeastern Zone 14-15 Northeastern Zone veterans and active military personnel ducks-only hunting days 19-23 Sacramento International Sportsman’s Exposition, Cal Expo; sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento 20-22 Bart Hall Boat Show, Pomona Fairgrounds; hallshows.com 29 Last day for most general all-quail hunts 29 Last day for most zones’ hunts for falconry take of ducks (including mergansers), geese, American coots and common moorhens 30 Opener for falconry rabbits and varying hare 31 Last day for duck season in most zones 31 Last day for statewide tree squirrel, rabbit and varying hare hunting seasons

1

Late-season Imperial Valley white geese opener 4 NorCal Trout Challenge, San Pablo Reservoir; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglerschallenge 4 Second falconry waterfowl season opens in most zones 4 Bishop Trout Rodeo catch-and-release fishing events, various waters; swcffi.org/rodeo 4-5 Youth waterfowl hunts in most zones 6 Fronted geese season opens in Northeastern Zone 11-12 Veterans and active military personnel waterfowl hunting days in Balance of State (ducks only), Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Zones 18 North Coast Canada geese late season opens 18-22 Late-season whitefront and white geese season in Balance of State Zone 21-23 Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery Steelhead Derby; rowdycreek.org 24-26 The Fly Fishing Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton; flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca 28 Last day of falconry grouse season For a complete list of bass tournaments statewide, go to dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx.

Most of California’s all-quail hunting seasons run through Jan. 29. (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)

It’s that time of year again for anglers to break out the beads and roe and target North Coast steelhead. A wet December and more rain expected this month could make for a good run of fish. (MIKE STRATMAN/REDWOOD COAST FISHING)

HOPES FOR A LOT OF FISH

PROMISING EARLY PROSPECTS FOR NORTH COAST STEELHEAD RUN

By Chris Cocoles

Usually, longtime Eureka-based guide Mike Stratman rings in the New Year before heading out to chase North Coast steelhead on the Smith and Chetco Rivers – located on either side of the California-Oregon border – then turning his attention to rivers further south later in the winter.

He continued that trend this season and was planning to get out soon after Jan. 1, but based on what he heard at the end of 2022, perhaps there was a small amount of regret. “I was hearing of good numbers of steelhead around for the few people trying before Christmas,” Stratman says of what could be a good sign for a strong run of fish. “My gut tells me it will be a good season, but these things can be tough to predict.”

Indeed, forecasting steelhead runs can be tricky, given unpredictable weather patterns and other variables turning the tide one way or another. Stratman, who owns and operates Redwood Coast Fishing (707601-8757; redwoodcoastfishing.com), is optimistic

based on some December rain and forecasts for more early in 2023.

And the good news for Stratman and other guides along the Northern California coast is that business seems to be booming.

“My bookings have been good.I’m full through March and have been for a couple months,” Stratman says. “But I am working with a couple other guides that have space throughout the season, so give me a call!”

RAIN AWAY, BUT DON’T KEEP THE FISH AWAY

It looks like this could be a wet winter, which brings both great excitement but also a bit of a concern in terms of steelhead prospects if it rains too much.

“We are starting with good water levels and there’s quite a bit more rain in the forecast for the foreseeable future,” says Stratman, who was expecting the Smith River just south of the state line to be in good fishing shape by New Year’s Eve. “Depending on what this current storm will ultimately do,” Smith said a few days before ringing in 2023. “But rain is forecasted

KLAMATH DAM REMOVAL COULD BE A GAME CHANGER FOR STEELHEAD, SALMON

The news that the Klamath River will see four dams removed starting in 2023 should in theory be a boon for the anadromous fish that call its waters home during portions of their lifecycle.

Final approval to remove the dams in Northern California and Southern Oregon – J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2 and Iron Gate – was granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in mid-November.

Taking them out is expected to open up hundreds of miles of spawning and rearing habitat for Klamath steelhead and salmon.

“With a large chunk of old territory soon to be open for them, I’d have to think that the Klamath’s fish population will be benefited greatly over time,” says guide Mike Stratman of Redwood Coast Fishing.

Still, he has some concerns about the long-term effects of dam removal.

“I think there’s a lot of unknown impacts, (such as) sediment buildup behind removed dams and movement through the watershed, seasonal water flow/ temperatures, and potential cessation of hatchery production ... that will only be discovered after removal,” he says, adding. “My fingers are crossed, and it will be fascinating to watch such a complex project unfold.” -CC

to one degree or another at least all through (the first week of January). This may curtail opportunities, but to be honest, I welcome all the rain we can get. We need it in the worst way.”

STARTING TO THE NORTH

Stratman expects the best early-season destinations to be the Smith and, just across the border, Oregon’s Chetco River.

“This is my typical early season location, as early January is typically the wettest time of the winter. If rain continues, I’ll stay in that area until I see water levels on our Humboldt County rivers drop enough to see good fishability for at least a handful of days,” Stratman says.

But it’s more likely that Stratman will begin taking his clients to southern rivers such as the Klamath, Mad and Eel closer to February and March.

“However, there have been years (like last year) where I end up down south by the middle of January. In years past, I’m strictly down south in the last half of March,” he says.

But this time around, Stratman was able to obtain a permit to fish a Wild and Scenic stretch of the upper Chetco River that flows through the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, which could see him fishing again in the Oregon waters later in spring.

“Like the Eel system, Mattole and Mad Rivers, this stretch of the Chetco is usually exceptional in March,” Stratman says.

SIDE-DRIFTING SPECIFICS

Like many of the North Coast’s guides and stealthy steelhead anglers, Stratmam is a side-drifting savant when targeting steelies.

“Side-drifting setups are pretty basic for me. I run 12-pound P-Line CXX for my mainline.I’ll run a size 5 snap swivel up my mainline so it slides freely,” he says. “My weight – either a Mad River Manufacturing Drifter, slinky or pencil lead – will attach to the snap. Then I’ll tie a size 5 barrel swivel to the end of the mainline.”

Stratman will run a leader of 10- to

The Smith and Chetco Rivers, two fisheries located near the border of California and Oregon, should be the best bests for steelie anglers in January, with the expectation that rivers further south such as the Mad, Eel and Klamath will be in play later in the winter. (MIKE STRATMAN/REDWOOD COAST FISHING)

12-pound P-Line fluorocarbon (“depending on the conditions,” he says).

“I’ll fish a No. 2 Owner SSW octopus hook on the 12-pound and a 4 on the 10 typically. The length of the leader can vary to 1.5 to 3 feet. The dirtier the water is, the shorter the leader,” Stratman adds.

“As far as the presentation, I’ll fish a lot of soft beads and bait/yarn. Beadwise, BnR and Mad River Manufacturing both have excellent products. Their colors and rubber are both kind of distinctive, so I like ’em both for different conditions.”

“Of course, it’s also hard to beat the traditional steelhead roe with a Mad River Fish Pill, Bait Button and yarn. Sometimes that rig even fishes better without the bait (just yarn and Fish Pill), depending on the water you’re fishing it in.”

Stratman also recommends plunking off the shore for less experienced steelie anglers when rivers are at higher levels. CS

Side-drifting is the name of the game for catching large steelhead like this one held by a client of guide Mike Stratman. “My gut tells me it will be a good season, but these things can be tough to predict,” he says. (MIKE STRATMAN/ REDWOOD COAST FISHING)

WHAT’S MY LINE CHOICE?

THINK LEAD CORE IS OBSOLETE? THIS HYBRID RIG WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND – AND LUCK

By Cal Kellogg

Sometimes true cutting-edge innovation drives the fishing world. Scientists working in labs, probably wearing those dorky white smocks, come up with something new like PowerBait or fluorocarbon

line, and fishing changes. What was common practice on the water yesterday becomes a mere memory of the old days tomorrow.

Before Berkley’s famed PowerBait, most bait anglers I knew wouldn’t think of hitting a trout lake without a block of Velveeta cheese in their coolers. They

formed that cheese into balls, teamed it with marshmallows and fired it out into the zone. Then along came jars of PowerBait, and the only place you’re likely to find Velveeta is in a frying pan and then sandwiched between two pieces of bread!

At other times innovation is more

KELLOGG)

subtle and as simple as taking an old product or approach and revamping it to solve a real-world problem. This is how the hybrid lead core rig was born. I didn’t invent the rig, but I was front and center when it came to perfecting it and popularizing its use on trout and salmon waters all over the West Coast.

If you aren’t running a hybrid rig, you should be because it will help you catch more and bigger trout, kokanee and landlocked kings.

WHAT?!? BEFORE I EXPLAIN how to set up a hybrid rig and why you want to, let me tell you about my first exposure to the rig. About 15 years ago, I’d really immersed myself into the trout and salmon trolling world. I was a good troller, but I wanted to master the finer points.

To achieve this, I fished with many of the best trollers in California. I picked their brains and watched how

Lead core line, braid backing and fluorocarbon top-shot material represent the heart and soul of Kellogg’s stealthy hybrid rig. (CAL KELLOGG)

Kellogg slides a trophy-caliber rainbow toward the net after fooling it with a fly trolled on a hybrid lead corerig. (CAL KELLOGG)

they fished. Some of them were top guides and some of them were just outstanding anglers.

During this period a guide invited me to power troll for landlocked kings and patrol shallow to medium-

deep structure early in the morning. Once the sun hit the water the kings would disappear into deep water.

The guide was pulling homemade spoons – similar to Speedy Shiners –at 3 to 4 mph and drawing reaction

strikes from kings ranging up to 5 pounds and more. By trolling fast, he was able to hit as much structure as possible before the salmon dropped in the water column.

When I met him on the designated day, the downriggers still wore their vinyl covers and the only two rods I saw were somewhat chunky Ugly Stiks mated with vintage Penn 109 levelwind reels. I picked up one of the rods for a closer look.

“We are going to need to drop the spoons down and move them up constantly as the depth changes and we are going to be moving fast,” my host advised. “The downriggers don’t work very well for this sort of work.

Instead, we are going to use these light lead core rigs. They have some 8-pound mono backing, three colors of lead core line and a short leader. With these rigs we can make quick depth changes and we can also add additional action to the spoons by working the rods.”

Lead core? That was something grandpa used on a stiff rod balanced with a massive reel spooled with 10 colors of lead core. I was a modern trouter. Why would I run lead core when I could be using electric downriggers? But I followed the advice my father had given me years before. I kept my mouth shut and my ears open, and what I learned was an

absolute game changer.

The rigs were nimble, depth changes were quick and easy, and we caught fish all the way down to 20 feet deep without the distraction of downrigger weights, clips and such.

When the trip was over my mind had been opened. I kept thinking about the utility of the lead core rigs we used and started playing with rigs of my own. I played with different rods, reels, line diameter, top shot length and more. A decade later I’d perfected the hybrid lead core rig I run today.

WHY? PICTURE AN OLD-SCHOOL traditional lead core outfit in your mind. The beatup tuna stick-style rod fitted with the

Kellogg and his pup Lucy roped this pansize rainbow while pulling a threaded worm teamed with a small blade 15 feet deep using a hybrid lead core rig. (CAL KELLOGG)

sturgeon reel. It’s rigged with a 5-foot string of soda-can-sized Cowbells trailing a No. 4 baitholder waiting to be armed with a whole nightcrawler..

Now delete that image from your consciousness, because that rig has nothing in common with my slick and nimble hybrid lead core rig.

The hybrid rig is direct drive, so to speak. On the water, all you need to do is spool the rig out to X distance and you’re fishing.

With my rig I can reach down to depths of about 25 feet. If I’m working fish holding deeper than about 30 feet, I’ll go with downriggers, but at times when the fish are from the surface to 30 feet deep, lead core gives you a tremendous advantage. While simplicity is a core attribute of the hybrid system, it also offers anglers an added level of stealth. Downrigger weights and cables make a lot of disturbance when they come

through the water. I’m convinced that sometimes this disturbance is good because it attracts fish. At other times, I don’t think it helps or hurts, yet I’m certain there are times when that disturbance puts fish off.

Lead core allows you to reach moderate depths with a lot less disturbance than you can with a downrigger. Lead core isn’t invasive. Its weight is distributed over its length, so it glides through the water very quietly.

Guiding full time, I’ve spent a lot of time fishing hybrid lead core rigs head to head with downriggers. If the fish are in the top 30 feet of the water column, the lead core almost always outperforms the downrigger. Are you a skeptic? Try it yourself and you’ll become a believer.

HOW? LET’S BUILD A hybrid lead core rig. The first thing you’ll need is a rod. I’m such a lead core fanatic I developed my own rod, but there are other rods on the market that will get the job done.

First, I like a fiberglass or E-glass rod. My rig utilizes braid, fluorocarbon and, of course, lead core. All these materials are low stretch and that’s why I choose an E-glass rod over a graphite rod. The fiberglass cushions the headshakes of the trout and salmon and prevents you from losing fish. This is the same reason bass pros often use fiberglass rods when fishing crankbaits.

The rod should be 6½ to 7½ feet long. It needs to have a soft sensitive tip followed by a bit of backbone to handle both the weight of the lead core and the big trout you are going to hook using the rig.

I match my rod with either an Abu Garcia 5500 or 6500 linecounter levelwind reel. I like a reel with a quick gear ratio and a smooth drag.

With rod and reel in hand it’s time to spool up. This step is the heart and soul of the hybrid rig. I’m going to give you approximate line lengths, but since diameters vary by brand, you’ll need to dial your recipe in with some trial and error.

First the reel is spooled with about

Client Ed took a guided trout trip with the author and nailed this 10-pound rainbow while trolling a plastic grub 10 feet deep on one of Cal’s hybrid lead core rigs. An outing with another guide helped Kellogg develop the setup: “I kept my mouth shut and my ears open, and what I learned was an absolute game changer.” (CAL KELLOGG)

200 yards of 20-pound braid, which has a very fine diameter. To the end of the braid, I attach three colors of 15- or 18-pound lead core. To the end of the lead coreI attach a 20-foot top shot of 20-pound fluorocarbon line. The top shot is ultimately tipped with a bead followed by a trolling snap.

All my gear runs off the snap. If I’m running a naked spoon, for example, I’ll tip the snap with a 48-inch, 8-pound-test fluorocarbon leader. If I’m running a dodger, I run it right off the trolling swivel.

I experimented with a lot of different knots for linking all the lines together. For security and simplicity, I’ve settled on a double uni knot. To tie that knot in the lead core you’ll need to slide the woven sheath back about 4 inches, snap off the lead core and then tie the knot using the sheath. This brings us to the brand of lead core you want to use.

There are some high-end lead core

lines on the market today. They are great quality lines, but I don’t use them because the woven sheath is bonded with the lead so well that it’s tough to slide it back in order to tie your knots. Instead of the high-end stuff, I run with the cheapest stuff I can find. The sheath slides back really easy and the line works great out on the water.

Lead core is metered by color; every color is 30 feet long. There are 10 colors per 100-yard spool of line, so you’ll be able to spool three reels with one spool of line.

The number of knots involved in setting up the rig is the reason I use a 20-pound-test top shot. If I snag the bottom, I want the leader to snap long before another part of the rig breaks. It’s a lot easier to replace a leader than other parts of the rig requiring multiple knots.

WITH YOUR RIG SET up, how do you fish specific depths out on the water?

Rule of thumb is that one color of lead corewill get you down 5 feet at a trolling speed of 2 mph. If you spool out all three colors, you’ll be about 15 feet down. Go faster and it’s going to run shallower; slower and it will get a bit deeper.

How do you get down beyond 15 feet? This is what my experimenting has taught me. If you put out 25 feet of braid backing beyond the lead core, you’ll be 20 feet deep. If you put out 50 feet of braid, you’ll be 25 feet deep.

I was running a hybrid rig at 1.8 mph pulling a naked spoon with 50 feet of backing out and snagged the bottom in 27 feet of water. That’s about as deep as you’re going to get running three colors of lead core. As I mentioned earlier, if the fish are 30 feet deep or deeper it’s time to deploy the downriggers.

The hybrid lead core rig is sleek, simple and effective. It will help you catch more and bigger fish in 2023! CS

STRUCTURED SEARCH

FOCUS YOUR SOUTHLAND SALTWATER BASS FISHING AROUND ARTIFICIAL REEFS, SUNKEN VESSELS AND OTHER DEEPWATER HABITAT.

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

Here we are in January and fishing for a lot of saltwater species – from bass to tuna –is still going strong.

However, the tuna are drifting out of small-boat range, storms are starting to hit Southern California, and it’s not always the best fishing weather this time of year. Yet fishermen should not throw in the towel yet, because the inshore bass fishing can still be great this time of year if you follow the fish.

Calico bass slide out onto deep structure and sand bass join them in their search for winter nourishment. Last January, a lot of my fishing buddies and I spent much of our time on the artificial reefs, dropoffs and even sunken boats off the Southland coast, chasing and catching bass.

THE STRUCTURE SPECTER

Up and down the coast there are structure targets you need to learn for deepwater fishing. You may even discover a new one nobody knows about. It could be artificial reefs made of old pier pilings, concrete, boulders the size of Volkswagen Bugs, and outlet pipes, sunken ships, as well as natural contours on the bottom. All of these will hold bass through the rest of the winter months. I just want to remind you that on some of the artificial reefs made from old bridges or concrete, there can be rebar sticking out of the various materials. You may want to go with a form of

Bill Schaefer’s son Bricen holds a nice deepwater calico caught off Point Loma in San Diego. As bass head to deep water offshore in winter, finding underwater structure could help you catch more fish. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Author

weedless jighead or bait to help keep yourself from tying on one new bait after another. Weedless swimbaits can be used in deeper water if weighted with lead nails, along with the normal weight on the hook.

BE A WEBMASTER

Also, let your fingers do the walking online. Many reefs can be found on various websites that promote this type of fishing. A lot of them publish the exact coordinates of the reefs off Southern California. You can add them to your GPS/sonar and store them to try once you’re on the water.

Old maps can be a great source for spots as well. Look for fish symbols on old maps or even on the mapping unit on your fish finder. They can be old, but if they’re on the map or unit, it had to have been a hot spot at one time in the past. Collect all you can to try fishing.

If you have enough of these targets/reefs stored in your mapping unit, then you will have the targets you need to fish all winter and be successful. You will, of course, need a fish finder with mapping capabilities to mark the spots, but if you don’t have mapping on your unit, a small handheld unit will work too.

If you only have the fish finder you’re still in business, as long as you can read the contours of the bottom or the targets.

And if necessary, line up two fixed points on land to find and return to the spots you like. You can also carry a notebook to make notes on your favorite spots. Even some less expensive fish finders have GPS/ mapping and higher resolution than older models, which will really help you out.

I.D. THE FISH

Can you tell the bass from the schools of rockfish on the structure? Yes, if your unit has high resolution, such as my Lowrance HDS 12 Live Sonar. On structure, the rockfish tend to look more like a school of bait, except a little larger in makeup. The bass tend to look more like streaks or the classic hooks you have come to recognize.

Even though they slide out to deeper water or are on, say, a pile of old bridge pilings, they can be up off the bottom chasing baitfish and feeding. If this is the case, then you will usually see a ball of some type of bait above them and the streaks on your meter running through that bait are the bass. They can also be

up prowling in wolf packs or schools and not actually feeding; then, they will look like just slightly elongated hooks. No matter where you find them, it’s always worth a few casts.

BAIT BASICS

At these depths there is a lot of food for fish to feed on, so it won’t always be a classic ball of some type of baitfish. Marks on the bottom can mean that they are feeding on crabs, including red crab, or lobster, shrimp, octopus and even squid. Some of these can look like a ball of something on your meter, but it will be hazy and almost clear because of their makeup.

You will learn to identify baits over time. Watch what the bass spit up when they hit the deck, throw them in the live well or bait tank, or when you throw them back. Many times what they are eating has helped me in a tournament by matching the hatch. If you come close – shape or color-wise – then you should tempt them into eating your lure. Even the fall of the lure can make a difference.

FALLING FOR YOUR LURE

Speaking of that, the fall of the lure can be a game changer. Think about how a red crab just drifts with the current. During one tournament we couldn’t get bit until we went to a lighter jighead so the bait would just drift down slowly. Usually, you will need a heavier head than when fishing the kelp, but it can still be anywhere from ½ ounce to 2 ounces.

You don’t want any more weight than you need. Wind and current can play a part in your choice more than you think. If you see that the fish are up off the bottom on your sonar, then don’t go too heavy, as your bait will fly right past them. Most of the fish may not even see your lure go by. A lighter living rubber jighead – think a Reebs or Warbaits – trailed with a swimbait, creature bait or giant grub will work well when the fish are keying in on red crab.

While the size of your jighead can be key to the fall of the bait, so can the

The Active Target feature of Schaefer’s Lowrance HDS 12 shows bass hovering over rocks on the ocean floor. (BILL SCHAEFER)

swimbait you choose. Have you ever been fishing with a buddy and he keeps catching fish and you aren’t?

Different swimbait manufacturers all believe in the design of their bait, especially the tail and the vibration it puts out.

Everything from larger thumping tails to quicker vibrating tails can make a difference. If you are not catching fish, then don’t hesitate to change baits – and not just color, but

the shape of the tail too. It’s good to carry different companies’ swimbaits, but also in the same colors. That way you can still emulate the baitfish, but also adjust the vibration of the tail. Big Hammer, MC Swimbaits, LK Lures, Reyes Swimbaits, Reebs Lures and Western Plastics are just a few of the companies whose products you should try out. For colors, match the hatch with something similar to what the fish are spitting up.

ALSO TRY THESE OPTIONS

As bass can be out in deep water but feeding up off the bottom, other lures like spinnerbaits, various jigs, iron, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits and umbrella rigs can attract the bite. Crankbaits can dive down to the bass as the iron is heavy enough to fall to them. The jigs are weighted as well and spinnerbaits in the 1- to 2-ounce size will reach bass.

Umbrella rigs do well on feeding bass, since they emulate a school of baitfish. It’s fun to use different lures at times to enhance the experience and the fun of catching. Experimenting can be great, especially when you hook up.

BREAK OUT KELP GEAR

This brings us to the tackle you’ll need. Don’t panic, because the equipment you use in the kelp will work on the deep areas as well. My favorite rod-and-reel combination is the Daiwa DXSB Swimbait rod with a Lexa 300 WN reel and 15-pound Maxima Ultragreen line. Because you are out in deep water, once you get the fish coming there’s really nothing they can break you off on.

You’ll have to wind and set the hook to take the stretch out of the line. If you have braid loaded on your reel, go with that line, which I will use on some of the deeper spots over 100 feet deep.

As you can see, you don’t need to change much to follow saltwater bass around during the year. Minor adjustments can help you catch fish in deeper water and thinking through what mode the bass are in will also make you a better bass angler.

Schaefer landed this calico off La Jolla last year. “You don’t need to change much to follow bass around during the year,” he writes. “Minor adjustments can help you catch fish in deeper water and thinking through what mode the bass are in will also make you a better bass angler.” (BILL SCHAEFER)

Your tackle is pretty much the same year-round, and fishing in January and through the winter will not change anything, save for the weight and fall of your lures. It may be a little cold in the morning, but once you get hooked on following the bass this time of year, you can then fish for them throughout the rest of the year – from shallow to deep and back again. CS

Destination Honda

FROM FIELD...

Leaving decoys strewn at the side of the pond after a hunt instead of packing them up is a big no-no in author Scott Haugen’s waterfowling book, especially in the late season. He believes it educates the birds. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

PUTTING OUT THE FLARES

WHY LATE-SEASON WATERFOWL AVOID YOUR SETUP, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

By Scott Haugen

Recently, a man asked me to swing by his pond and check out his duck decoy spread. Ducks weren’t coming close to his setup and he wanted some advice. The decoys looked fine. The

problem was his blind. It was a giant box blind that was way too tall, too wide, was set in the worst location possible on the 10-acre pond, and it didn’t have a twig of cover on it. It had sharp edges all around, which stood out from a mile away, literally, and the only real attempt to conceal

it was a skimpy sheet of camo netting that blew in the slightest wind, making things even worse. His decoys weren’t to blame.

Another hunt I was on ended with the host pulling his decoys at the end of the morning. Where I hunt, I’m a believer in pulling decoys the last six

FIRE

A WATERFOWL TWIST ON A DELI CLASSIC

By Tiffany Haugen

Wild ducks can vary wildly in size and flavor. One recipe that is always a winner is duck pastrami. The long corning/brine process tames any strong flavors and the flavorful rub and smoke flavors accentuate what soon may be one of your favorite wild game meats.

We’ve enjoyed duck pastrami made from mallards, pintails, shovelers, ringnecks and a host of other ducks, as well as geese, and everyone who has tried it has always wanted more.

3 pounds duck breasts, cleaned and skinned

1 cup boiling water

1 teaspoon InstaCure

¼ cup kosher salt

¼ cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons pickling spices

2 teaspoons granulated garlic

1 teaspoon black pepper

7 cups cold water

In a large crock or container, whisk salt, InstaCure – sometimes called pink salt or Prague powder – sugar and spices in 1 cup boiling water until salts and sugar dissolve. Add additional 7 cups of cold water and set

aside. Clean duck breasts of any sinuous tissues and fat, remove all bloodshot meat and place in brine solution. Cover and refrigerate six to seven days.

Make pastrami seasoning rub of choice. Remove duck breasts from brine and brush off excess spices. Pat dry and coat with pastrami seasoning rub. Place coated duck breasts on smoker racks.

Fill your smoker pan with wood chips (flavor of choice). Place racks in smoker and smoke eight to 10 hours, using at least two pans of wood chips. Smoke until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Duck breasts can also be finished in a 170-degree oven or 150-degree dehydrator. (Note: When running a smoker in winter in cold climates, use an approved insulating blanket, as cook times will be greatly extended.)

Duck pastrami can be sliced and eaten directly from the smoker, or, more traditionally, steamed before serving. Steam whole for 30 to 60 minutes or slice and steam five to 10 minutes.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

1) Make smoked duck pastrami pâté by mixing equal parts chopped duck pastrami with cream cheese and pulse

until combined in a food processor.

2) Use as the corned beef/pastrami layer in your favorite grilled Reuben sandwich. Keep duck pastrami refrigerated or, for longer-term storage, vacuum seal and freeze either sliced or whole.

TRADITIONAL

PASTRAMI SEASONING

2 tablespoons black pepper

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

2 teaspoons granulated garlic

In a small bowl, mix seasonings until thoroughly combined.

HOT PASTRAMI SEASONING

2 tablespoons black peppercorns

2 teaspoons mustard seeds

2 teaspoons cumin seeds

1 to 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes

In a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder, grind all spices until thoroughly combined.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Game Birds, and other best-selling titles, visit tiffanyhaugen.com.

For a wild game bird twist on a deli staple, try creating pastrami out of your duck breasts, which can make a delicious pâté or quite a unique Reuben sandwich. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

HUNTING

weeks of the season because a lot of ducks winter there and we’re catching an early push of birds heading north. I don’t want to educate them more than they already are, so I pull the decoys after each hunt, and usually hunt that spot twice a week.

I was pleased to see the man pulling decoys because not many hunters in the area go to such effort. But when he only pulled his five dozen floaters to the edge of the pond and left them, I was dumbfounded. Leaving them randomly strewn about the bank

was far worse than leaving them in formation on the water. Such neglect only educates already wary birds.

A GOOSE HUNT I was just on found me and my dog backing away from a point of land where I left another hunter to shoot incoming geese. The man had already missed several shots and was frustrated, so I put him out there and moved back into some brush to call and give him space. The next four flocks that came in rapidly flared at the same spot at about 60

A blind like this will flare birds way before they get to the decoys. Be sure blinds are brushed in to conceal sharp edges and dark holes. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

A well-disguised blind and paying attention to all the details of a hunt will yield consistent, positive results, like it did here for Haugen and his dog Echo. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

yards outside the spread. I eased closer to see what was happening.

The next flock flared in the same spot, and I found the man as far out on the point as he could get – out of cover, resting the gun on his knee. He stayed there when the next flock approached, too, and as soon as they came into sight he started aiming at them at 200 yards out. They flared, obviously. When I asked him what he was doing, he said he didn’t want to miss any more shots. Aiming at birds isn’t the remedy, and obviously being fully exposed 10 yards from the closest decoy wasn’t the answer either, as birds were flaring before they even got into range.

One thing I need to improve upon is my calling, and I’ve been telling myself that for years. But being an average caller can have its benefits, especially if you know when to shut up. My calling approach is simple: If birds are passing by, not looking at the

decoys, I call to get their attention.

Then I stop and let the decoys do the work. Things I hear way too much on a regular basis are too much calling, poor calling that’s even worse than mine, and calling at the wrong times, like when birds have already committed or are circling directly over the blind. Calling can do more harm than good in many situations, so don’t blame the decoys when birds flare at your sounds.

SOME OF THE MOST basic errors I see are hunters moving around outside the blind when birds are in view. Don’t get lazy. Blinds are built for a reason. Stay in them, keep movement to a minimum and remain concealed when birds are flying. If birds flare when directly overhead, be sure and cover the top of the blind and fill in any black holes birds might see from above.

If you’re confident you’re doing everything right but birds simply

aren’t decoying, change the spread, because sometimes decoys are to blame. However, in many cases, it’s the fault of the hunter who takes too long to change things up.

If I see two approaching flocks flare at the same spot during their approach – for no apparent reason –I’m changing something in my spread. Maybe the wind direction shifted and now I need to adjust my landing zones. Maybe my spinner decoy is too much action or I need to relocate my floaters on a jerk cord.

If ducks are flaring from your spread in the final weeks of the season, ask yourself why. If you step back and look at the big picture, you’ll see there’s a lot more to decoying ducks than just the decoys. CS

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s many books on hunting and fishing, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

RESOLVE TO CORRECT BEHAVIOR ISSUES NOW

By Scott Haugen

Happy New Year! If you’re a dog owner and into New Year’s resolutions, sweet! If you’re a dog owner and your dog’s not behaving as you’d like, now is the time to develop a resolution to fix it.

Here are some scenarios I recently witnessed, and how to remedy them.

ISSUE “Those dog beds are terrible; my dog chewed it up in less than a week!”

RESOLUTION First of all, no gun dog that you’ve raised from a puppy should

be allowed to chew on anything you don’t want it to. The exception to this is dogs with high anxiety, especially rescue dogs, which many people acquired during the Covid calamity; disciplining and teaching these dogs is a whole different scenario.

The problem with a dog chewing its bed is not the bed, but the owner’s inability to control the dog, and the fact it carried on for a week is wrong. When a pup chews on anything you don’t want it to, approach it with a harsh “No!” command and remove the object, or the dog. Give the dog a bone or chew to redirect the behavior.

If the chewing persists, approach the dog with a harsh “No!” command and swat its backside, or the underside of the jaw. Never raise a hand to a dog and swat it in the face or from the top, down, as it could lead to irreparable damage. If this doesn’t work, an electronic collar will do the job.

ISSUE “I like to let her run like that; it’s a good workout.”

RESOLUTION It was summer and I was swimming my dogs in a river. A man came walking by with his German shorthaired pointer. A few minutes prior I had watched his dog

While hunting dogs are born with drive, it’s up to the owner to get the most from their dog, and it starts with establishing who is boss through clear, consistent communication. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

run across a big farm field, chasing a flock of honkers, barking all the way. I asked him what had just happened. “Oh, that, I always let her chase birds; it’s good exercise.”

When I told the man it’s against the law to harass wildlife like that, and that his dog was trespassing, I had his attention. And if he thought a short burst run is conditioning, he

had a lot to learn. A long, steady run or swim is much better, and to get the most of short-burst sprints, do it by throwing bumpers uphill so a dog can build strength in its back end.

As for the question of allowing a dog to chase birds, what’s it going to do come time for a hunt?

ISSUE “Ever since she had a litter of

pups, she’s not hunted the same.”

RESOLUTION That’s what a man shared with me on a duck hunt together. Over the course of the morning three of us killed limits in a small creek, yet the dog only retrieved three ducks. The dog was reluctant to swim, walk in the mud or move through brush. The man said his vet checked the dog for hormone imbalances, overall health concerns and confirmed she was on a good diet. This dog was being lazy and just needed some direction and a boost of confidence.

Instead of making excuses and wanting to keep shooting ducks, the owner should have set down his gun and worked with his dog to get her fetching. Tossing a bird short for her to retrieve would have done it. The dog was controlling the owner, not the other way around, and at 4 years old, the Lab just needed to be encouraged and told what to do.

ISSUE “He’s just a puppy having fun.”

RESOLUTION That’s what a man said to me in the parking lot as his dog ran over 100 yards away into a duck marsh. The pup chased up ducks, snipe and songbirds and was clearly out of control. When walking from his blind to the truck, the man should have kept the 6-month-old pup on a short leash and controlled it. When the pup finally did come back – at its leisure, no less – it wouldn’t obey a single command.

Never take a break from training and always reinforce the pup to sit, stay and heel. Commands and training should occur at work and play. The owner must establish himor herself as the leader in order for their dog to know what it’s supposed to do, and for them to enjoy the experience of being a gun dog owner.

ISSUE “Down, get down! I hate it when he jumps on strangers!”

Why does this hunter have a whistle in his mouth? Because he’s prepared to correct any unwanted behavior of his dog. For gun dog owners, the training never stops, even when on the hunt. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

RESOLUTION I’d just seen the yellow Lab jump up on his owner and lick his face, and the owner encouraged it. As the passenger got out of the truck, the dog did the same to them.

That’s when the owner tried to make it stop. By encouraging the dog to jump up and lick the owner, it was being taught that such behavior is OK, but when it did it to someone else, it was told it was not OK. The owner needs to deliver consistent messages. Otherwise, he and his dog will only be frustrated. The man must not let the dog jump on him when it’s excited, no exceptions.

WITH A NEW YEAR upon us, resolve yourself to shaping your dog into the best behaved animal it can be. This starts with you knowing what’s right and wrong, then delivering clear and concise commands that leave no question you’re the one in charge at all times. CS

Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

A disciplined dog should do whatever its owner wants, including posing for pictures at the end of a successful hunt. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

GOING IT ALONE

ByCalKellogg

Through seven days of sitting in ambush and rough lava playing hell with my backside, the first thing I did was position the makeshift sitting pad I’d created the night before, using duct tape, a strip cut off my foam sleeping pad and a shemagh

With the seat in place, I arrayed my gear around me so I could easily and

HOW ONE CALIFORNIA OUTDOORSMAN PREPARES FOR SOLO HUNTING, FISHING, PROSPECTING OUTINGS

quietly access everything I was likely to need. In 30 minutes, it would be legal shooting time.

By the time the darkness gave way to the milky light of dawn, I’d spotted the first deer, which was a dandy buck. The deer was feeding in a patch of brush maybe 1,500 yards away. I have no idea how many points the buck had, but through the 10x50 binoculars there was no mistaking the high straw-colored rack.

The air seemed charged with electricity. On an instinctive level, I knew I was going to have an opportunity. I kept telling myself, “This is your window; pick a spot and make a sure shot when the time comes.”

When you sit on a stand day after day, you become acutely aware of your surroundings, so when I spied a dark blob screened by brush to the west of my position, I knew right away it was a deer. The binoculars

There are inherent risks associated with heading into the wilderness alone, but for some outdoors enthusiasts, confronting danger just adds to the satisfaction they feel when hunting, fishing or prospecting. Author Cal Kellogg is willing to take those chances on solo trips. (CAL KELLOGG)

confirmed what I’d seen was indeed a deer’s hindquarters, but there was no way to tell if it was a buck or doe.

I watched the deer for a good five minutes, and while it moved around a fair amount it never revealed its head. I wanted to keep an eye on the deer, but I also had to keep my eyes open for movement in other areas.

After scanning the area below me for the umpteenth time, I once again glanced over at the deer. It was now standing in the open and I could see with my naked eye that it was a buck. The binoculars revealed a nice set of antlers. I had no idea how many points the buck had, but I knew it was a husky mature blacktail. My heart started racing.

The buck had its head down feeding and was clueless about my presence. Buck fever twinged as I

picked up the rifle. My mind spun.

“That’s a long shot, almost 300 yards. Don’t miss or you might not get another opportunity,” I told myself.

I took a deep breath and pushed the negative thoughts from my mind. I crowded up against the stunted oak tree to my left and tried to steady the dancing crosshairs.

The bellow of the 7mm came as a surprise. When my eyes opened a beat later the buck was down. It was 8:30 a.m.

The path to the buck was treacherous and steep with lots of lava dropoffs. The last thing you need on a solo hunt is a twisted ankle, or worse, a broken leg, so I took my time, backtracked and took the long way around. A half hour later I was standing over a handsome blacktail with an 18-inch spread, deep forks

and complete with brow tines.

Just about the time I reached the buck it started spitting rain. It took me about an hour to field butcher the deer and six hours to backpack out the meat. Back at home I ended up with 59 pounds of boned meat, so I imagine the buck had a live weight of 140 to 150 pounds.

I hunted the rough country alone, sacrificed my body and went headto-head with one of North America’s most elusive big game animals: the mature public-land blacktail buck. The satisfaction I still feel is unmeasurable.

YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN

Going alone. For me that means hunting, fishing or prospecting alone in the outdoors with no immediate backup if something should go wrong.

Quality gear is critical to the solo outdoors enthusiast. A waterproof tarp, GPS, waterproof matches and extra ammo are only a few of the things the author carries during his outdoor adventures. (CAL KELLOGG)

The two women in my life – my wife and my mom – and even my dad don’t like it when I go solo, and they’ve told me as much.

First off, I will say that going into the field alone, particularly when hunting but also when fishing or

prospecting in rough terrain or in remote locations, holds inherent risks, some of which can’t be overcome and must be accepted by the solo outdoorsman.

For Mom, Dad and Gena, accidents are a big concern – something like a broken leg that immobilizes me and has serious consequences up to and including death. Other concerns are health issues like a heart attack, appendicitis or a bout of kidney stones.

A side concern of family members is that by going solo you run the risk of being confronted by two-legged and four-legged threats in the form of pot farmers or backcountry robbers, bears or mountain lions, respectively.

If you discount these risks, you aren’t very smart. Yet I don’t allow them to keep me from going into the field alone. The list of things that could happen in the woods is long and some of the risks are very real, like breaking a leg. Other risks like a mountain lion attack are

mathematically possible, but remote enough to be of little concern. Yes, if you see the headline, “Cal Kellogg Eaten By Mountain Lion” in a future issue, you have permission to laugh!

IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

I’ve been hunting solo for the past 30 years. My longest and most remote solo trips have been 10-day-long backpack hunts into the Yolla Bollies and the remote reaches of the Lassen National Forest.

These trips hold risk, but so do a lot of the other things that don’t get a second thought, like driving on the freeway and frequenting marinas in rough urban areas in predawn hours.

Over the years I’ve reflected a lot on what could go wrong in terms of solo adventures and I’ve done my best to answer each of these possible challenges. First, when I’m out in the woods alone, I keep the thought that I have no immediate backup in the front of my mind, which means I

Kellogg surveys a rough, lava-strewn canyon during a challenging blacktail hunt. During the adventure it rained eight out of nine days. Cold, wet weather makes hunting the backcountry even more challenging. (CAL KELLOGG)

Multi-tools offer a ton of utility for hunters and anglers. They can be used to clean fish and game, most of them feature a saw, and they can be used to fix or repair other gear. (CAL KELLOGG)

don’t take any unnecessary risks.

GEAR YOU’LL NEED SOLO

In the event I still get into a bad situation I carry a locator beacon with me at all times. There are several of these devices on the market, but they all basically work the same way. If you get in trouble, you hit the panic button, the device pings a satellite and search and rescue teams get dispatched to your location.

Do your research when you pick out a beacon. Some are better than others and some have great additional features. My beacon was about $300. It’s highly reviewed, so I know it’s going to work out in the backcountry. It’s 100-percent waterproof and it features a strobe light that will flash for 48 hours once I hit the rescue button, making it far easier to locate me at night.

The beacon has given my wife and I far more than $300 in peace of mind. I have never used the beacon, but it’s sure nice knowing that help is one button click away.

Beyond looking at each situation critically with the idea of not getting hurt, I carry a lot of items in addition to an emergency beacon that might be of use in said emergency. I always

wear a pack and it contains water and a solid selection of “survival gear.”

I’ve got a space blanket, a quality 6-foot-by-8-foot tarp with small aluminum stakes, 50 waterproof matches, a magnesium fire starter, tactical first-aid kit, medication, two headlamps, GPS unit with extra batteries, fully charged cell phone (turned off), two energy bars, a

The tools needed to combat a worst-case scenario when alone in the wild start with a tactical firstaid kit and space blanket. With the former you can stop serious bleeding, while the latter may keep you from becoming hypothermic. (CAL KELLOGG)

Leatherman tool, parachute cord, police whistle, and extra ammunition for whatever firearm I’m carrying. And no, I don’t go into the country without a firearm.

This looks like a lot of stuff, but in reality, once it’s in the pack I hardly notice it. The beacon and phone are aimed at helping me get found by rescuers and a lot of the other stuff is intended to make spending an unexpected night or nights in the woods safer and more comfortable.

BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING

Practice makes perfect and that applies to survival skills too. Knowing that one day I may have to spend a night in the woods out of necessity, I’ve done it several times over the years just for practice. A couple times I’ve set up a “survival shelter” within yards of my truck on a rainy afternoon after a morning of quail hunting. I’ve started a fire, hunted up a wood supply that would last the night, roasted the quail over the coals and spent a damp, cold and uncomfortable night wrapped up in a space blanket under an improvised tarp-roofed lean-to.

To some, intentionally spending a night out in the rain sounds crazy,

Headlamps are critical equipment for any hunter or angler, but they can and do break, so it’s wise to follow the philosophy that two is one, and one is none. In other words, carry two headlamps and you’ll never be left in the dark. (CAL KELLOGG)

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Red Stag

Red Stag

Wild Boar

Whitetail

but it has given me confidence and an idea of what to expect. I don’t have to think about how to knot a shelter together with parachute cord. I’ll just do it because I’ve done it before. That sort of knowledge saves time, energy and limits fear and frustration.

LET ’EM KNOW WHERE YOU’LL BE

Speaking of rescuers, even if you have a beacon, you should still leave a detailed trip plan with a concrete return date with a responsible person. Once you give your plan to your contact, you’ve got to stick with it. That way if you don’t show up, the rescuers will have a firm starting point and they’ll know what areas you were planning to cover.

If the risks are real, even if I’ve prepared as much as possible for said risk, why take the chance?

For me the reason is multifaceted. For one thing, a lot of the time I go into the field during the week when

no one is available to tag along with me. Being in the woods alone allows me to better tap into what’s around me and that has often resulted in a better level of success for me when hunting game, fish or gold nuggets.

FOR THE LOVE OF ADVENTURE

Perhaps the final piece of the puzzle in my zeal for solo adventure has to do with the risk itself. There is something very basic about going into the wilderness alone, where you are responsible for your well-being and where every decision could have life-or-death consequences.

When you are in the pitch-dark woods deep in the Yolla Bollies and a bear starts ripping apart a fallen tree looking for an insect appetizer less than a hundred yards from your tarp shelter, a switch is thrown and something inside of you changes – especially when you illuminate said bear in the beam of your headlamp and yell at him, only to

have him pay you zero attention!

“He knows I’m here but doesn’t care. If he gets aggressive, when do I shoot?” your mind races as you clutch your weapon, ready to rock and roll.

Going solo and overcoming the inherent challenges and risks is profoundly satisfying to me. I accept and own the risks. I would never advise anyone to do what I do, but I know there are plenty of folks out there who do and feel much the same as I do. When they read this piece, they too will feel a jolt of excitement deep inside that can’t be fully described; only experienced.

Use caution in pursuing your adventures. Have fun and come back from the void alive and well! CS

Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California outdoors writer. Subscribe to his YouTube channel Fish Hunt Shoot Productions at youtube.com/ user/KelloggOutdoors.

Kellogg spent seven days hunting solo in the Lassen National Forest to harvest this dandy blacktail buck. “There is something very basic about going into the wilderness alone,” he writes, “where you are responsible for your well-being and where every decision could have life-or-death consequences.” (CAL KELLOGG)